Celebrating the vote, from left, Town of Oyster Bay Local 1st Vice President Sal Cecere, SCO Family of Services Local President Sirlentor Berry, Northeast Parent and Child Society (NPCS) Online/On-call Counselor Geneva Grice, NPCS Sr. Residential Counselor Adrian O’neale, CSEA Statewide Organizer Greg Bartow, Town of Oyster Bay Local President and Long Island Region 1st Vice President Jarvis T. Brown and Town of Oyster Bay Local Executive Vice President Guadalupe Johnson.
SCHENECTADY — Workers at Northeast Parent and Child Society (NPCS) are the newest members of our CSEA family, voting to join our union in a recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election.
The 88 full-time and part-time workers organized with CSEA for a stronger voice on the job, a safer workplace and fair treatment.
“We welcome our new sisters and brothers at Northeast Parent and Child Society into the CSEA family,” CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said. “We’d like to thank all the CSEA leaders, members and staff who worked hard to make sure this campaign would be successful. This victory is further proof that Labor is only getting stronger in America.”
The group works to help the children at NPCS (5-21 years old) navigate life at their residential facility, to and from school and in the community. The workers wanted a voice to help address recent staffing issues, increase worker safety and protections, ensure fairness, equity and inclusion.
“We are so excited to have won our election,” said Geneva Grice, an online/on-call counselor. “We are on the way to getting the dignity and respect we deserve. This is what is best for us and the children we care for. I hope to see more opportunities for people of color in administrative roles and an expansion of diversity and inclusion of all ethnicities, fair treatment and fair salaries.”
“This has been long overdue. This allows us to have our voices heard and most of all to have support. I hope to have better benefits and to feel appreciated for the job I do,” said Adrian O’neale, a senior residential counselor.
The campaign was led by CSEA Statewide Organizer Greg Bartow, with assistance by CSEA Lead Organizer Jess Riley. CSEA Capital Region President Ron Briggs, the Schenectady County DSS Unit, Schenectady County Local Treasurer Katie Soule, Oyster Bay Local President Jarvis T. Brown, SCO Family of Services Local President Sirlentor Berry and the SCO Local Executive Board supported the workers throughout the campaign. CSEA Senior Counsel Aaron Kaplan and Associate Counsel Mary Slattery also secured multiple legal victories on behalf of the workers.
“We’re humbled that these workers chose to build their power through joining CSEA,” said Briggs. “This vote result shows they clearly understand the advantages of collective action, and they join thousands of workers right here in New York State and across the country who are getting empowered through the labor movement.”
— Jill Asencio
